RTI Partners with Local Schools to Improve School Safety

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK— RTI International was awarded with the NC School Safety Grant to create All Hands on Deck, a program designed to develop social and emotional learning skills among teachers, principals, counselors, and school resource officers. The program was formed as a preventive approach to improve school safety through strengthened adult-student relationships and interactions. RTI’s Center for Education Services will partner with three school districts, Surry County Schools, New Hanover County Schools, and Johnston County Public Schools for this program.

All Hands on Deck positively supports youth behavior by promoting evidence-based adult practices that cultivate safe and supportive schools. This year-long professional learning experience will equip staff and school resource officers with skills and tools to create safe climates that prevent potential safety issues. These practices will foster strong adult-student relationships and can create environments that support proactive safety intervention.

Each school district RTI is partnering with will identify two schools to engage in All Hands on Deck over the 2018-2019 year. This training program will directly impact approximately 4,000 students (those who attend one of the six program schools) and indirectly impact up to 70,000 students who attend districts where the program is being implemented. Partner districts will come together in June 2019 at RTI headquarters in RTP for a summit to share learning, discuss challenges, highlights successes and sustainability plans, and network with other schools. This convening will be open to all districts across the state at no cost.

For more information on RTI’s Education Services, visit https://www.rti.org/centers/education-services.